On Sunday, House and Senate leadership released the text of the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual bill that would, among other things, block certain Chinese biotech suppliers from federal contracts. The House is expected to vote this week in what’s typically considered a must-pass bill. Biosecure’s inclusion marks a milestone, after its failure last year to make the legislative package. “It takes some of the direct bite out of the Biosecure Act,” said Matt Wetzel, a partner at the law firm Goodwin. The legislation also contains a five-year safe harbor for existing contracts, giving firms additional time to adjust. While Biosecure didn’t make the cut last year, some firms have already begun shifting production domestically in response to concerns over US-China tensions. Wetzel said as a result of Biosecure, he expects the trend to accelerate in the next five to 10 years.
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